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Because the whistles and music become louder, I speed up, holding on to Estella who huffs and puffs, barely keeping up with my pace.
My sister tries her best because she knows what might happen if we slow down, and guarding her life is my one single goal. Navigating deeper into the mansion in the dark, I move toward the direction of the secret door that allows us to get outside and hide in our massive garden.
Wayne has the power only between these walls. Outside, he becomes weak and useless, roaring in displeasure when we escape his clutches.
Heavy footsteps tail us, and my heart beats wildly, my hand gripping Estella’s even tighter while his slurs rock off the walls. “You little bastards, come back here.” Something crashes in the distance, and the sounds of gunshots make Estella gasp in fear, and she stumbles a little. “Come back, or I’ll kill you both, so your whore of a mother can be sorry for what she has done to me.”
Fucking asshole.
My mother never cheated on the bastard in her life, but he can never forgive her for marrying his uncle first and reminds her about it on a daily basis.
Ironically, I’m the only one on the receiving end of his cruelty, though, because my body is an outlet for his rage and resentment required to deal with my mother’s betrayal toward his feelings.
Hilarious, really, as my mother is incapable of loving anyone but herself.
Maybe that’s why his manic episodes have increased lately, occurring almost every other night as he turns the mansion into an even grimmer place where everyone is afraid of their own shadows.
I feel Estella tremble and grabbing her shoulders, I push her in front of me, blocking her from any danger coming from behind. It’s the right call because the bullets ring in the air followed by something crashing in the distance. “Run, Estella.” She speeds up, our bare feet soundless on the carpeted floor. More bullets ring out, and something crashes again while only one thought pounds in my mind.
To get Estella to safety before this bastard gets his hands on her. I can withstand anything.
Anything but her pain.
Gazing ahead, I sigh inwardly at the small opening in the wall, and we finally reach the secret door. Another bullet, along with his loud roar, reverberates around the walls, and she whispers, “Octavius.”
I palm her head. “It’s okay, Estella. Go inside now and run. Run until you reach the greenhouse and stay there. Do not come back home until someone comes to get you.” At her nod, I remove the painting hiding the secret passage and motion for her to go in before closing the opening so the bastard will never find out about it.
Or anyone else, for they’ll snitch on us at their first opportunity. Their fear is stronger than any sense of honor or empathy toward two hopeless children.
We found the passage with Florian two years ago; since then, it has been our saving grace. My bruises wouldn’t be so severe if I got out on time.
Florian even got us blankets, food, and a few lamps to put in there so we’d be more comfortable. He also bought a music player for Estella so she could put on headphones and block away everything while trying to fall asleep. A first aid kit is there too to treat any wounds since I refuse to report Wayne. I think all the families know at this point because Uncle Lucian and Uncle Jacob constantly try to keep me in their houses, they always talk to me and beg me to open up. They protect me in their own way, and frustration always flashes in their eyes when I refuse their help, continuing to live in this hell.
Wayne might go behind bars, but my mother…she would find another piece of shit to marry, and he might be worse. At least with Wayne, I know he only wishes to hurt me deep down.
What if another bastard would touch Estella? The bitch can’t be trusted to make any good decisions.
Despite our wealth, which is our given right, Wayne never allows any money to be spent on me unless it’s to buy me clothes for school, so no one knows about his hideous deeds. He loves to use it against me too, sometimes withholding food for days in hopes of me coming and begging to him.
I never do because fuck him, and my attitude angers him even more.
Florian pretty much pays for all the things I need and gets me food to eat at school or sneaks some sandwiches inside the house with takeout bags. It makes Wayne livid, and he barely resists snatching them away or hitting my best friend.
The bastard is many things, but he isn’t stupid.
You’d have to be an idiot to go against Jacob Price’s son in this town because Florian’s dad would bury you alive if you dared.
In the greenhouse is a small phone too. Florian told us to call him in an emergency, but I never used it despite Estella begging me to do it.
As long as I can survive, we will never use this phone, and I have six more years.
Six years until I graduate and get access to my trust fund.
Six years until I can speak up and fight for custody.
Six years, but in this hell, six years might as well be six thousand because time stands still here.
The footsteps come closer, and I dart to the left, screaming, “I’m here!” Changing direction, I run away from the secret opening so he won’t hear Estella crawling through the passage.
